Traffic control signaling device



July 20, 1954 DUNN 2,684,046

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1951 FIG. .1.

INVENTOR. DAV/D O. DUNN,

flmm flan/law ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAFFIC CONTROLSIGNALING DEVICE David 0. Dunn, Lake Charles, La.

Application October 26, 1951, Serial No. 253,418

(Cl. l1652) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a traffic control signalling device forattachment to a vehicle.

While on the highway, a driver often can see an approaching vehiclewhich cannot be seen by the driver of a following vehicle that is aboutto pull out to pass. In the event that the following vehicle pulls outto pass, the driver of the intermediate vehicle is completely helplessto effectively signal the driver of the following vehicle to return tohis own traffic lane to avoid the inevitable headon collision.

An object of this invention is to provide a traffic control signallingdevice which is particularly adapted to warn the following vehicle toreturn to his own trafiic lane and simultaneously informs the oncomingvehicle of the impending danger.

Another object of this invention is to provide a traffic controlsignalling device which can be readily manipulated by the driver of anintermediate vehicle to effectively signal a following vehicle as wellas an oncoming vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a traffic controlsignalling device for attachment to a vehicle which simulates theconventional intersection movable traffic signal and thereby creates thesame psychological effect on the driver of a vehicle which is about topull out and pass the vehicle carrying the signalling device as thedriver experiences when approaching an intersection having theconventional traffic signal.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a traffic controlsignalling device which is relatively simple in structure and cheap tomanufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdetail description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the trafiic control signallingdevice shown attached to the left rear of a vehicle;

Figure 2 is an elevational view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1showing the traffic control signalling device of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the traffic control signalling devicewith parts broken away and shown in section, taken from the left ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line it of Figure2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the structure foractuating the trafiic control signalling device from the drivers seat ofthe vehicle.

Referring now with particularity to the drau ings, wherein likereference numerals have been used throughout the several views todesignate like parts, there is shown the traiiic control signallingdevice of the present invention, generally designated by the referencenumeral it which is secured contiguous to the left rear wheel of avehicle l2 including a steering wheel shaft E3.

The traffic control signalling device comprises an upstanding hollowhousing 15 having one side it provided with a longitudinally extendingslot ll. Fixedly secured to the housing !5 is a sup porting arm l8 whichis securable to the adjacent portions of the vehicle body by means ofthe nut and bolt assembly it. The housing 15 is secured in a verticallydisposed position visible to the following vehicle traveling in the samedirection.

Disposed in a retracted position within the upstanding housing IE is asignal flag 20 which. is mounted on the housing it for movement throughthe open side thereof to an extended position. The signal fiag 26 ismounted on the housing It by means of a supporting sleeve 25 which issecured to the flag 2i] and rotatably supported on the bolt or axle 22which is secured to the housing l5 transversely thereof contiguous toand spaced from the lower end of the housing. Accordingly the signalflag 2t can be moved from the retracted vertically extending positionwithin the housing! 5 to an extended horizontal position exteriorly ofthe housing and projecting from the adjacent side of the vehicle.

The signal flag 20 in the extended position has one face 23 visible tothe following vehicle and provided with control indicia and has theother face 24 visible to an oncoming vehicle traveling in the oppositedirection and provided with warning indicia. It has been found desirablethat the control indicia be in the form of bold face letters Slow Down,for informing the following vehicle which is about to pass to return tohis own traffic lane. It has been further found desirable to use warningindicia spelling the words Drive Carefully to inform the oncomingvehicle of the impending danger.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 the lower end of the signal flag 20projects exteriorly of the housing l5 which is suitably slotted in thelower end thereof and on the side 26 to permit the desired movement ofthe signal flag. Formed integrally with or fixedly secured to theprojecting end of the signal flag 20 is a Weight 21 which normallybiases the signal flag into the retracted position Within the housing[5.

Suitable means actuable contiguous to the drivers seat of the vehicleare operatively connected to the signalling fiag 20 for periodicallymoving the latter to the extended position in accordance with trafiicconditions. As clearly shown in Figure 6 the steering shaft l3 supportsa pulley 30 over which is trained one end of a flexible actuating cable3!, the cable having the other end thereof connected to the lower end ofthe signal flag as illustrated in Figure 2. Intermediate the endsthereof the control cable M is provided with a turn buckle 32 forefifectively varying the over-all length of the cable. Supported on thesteering shaft i3 is a keeper 34 which selectively receives and engagesa ratcheted latch piece 35 which is secured to the end of the controlcable 3| trained over the pulley 30. As clearly shown in Figure 1, thecontrol cable 3| intermediate its ends is extended beneath the floorboards of the vehicle between suitable guide pulleys 36.

Secured to or formed integrally with the sup porting arm I8 is a pulleysupport 3? which carries guide pulleys 38, 39 disposed at right angleswith respect to each other. As clearly shown in Figure 2 the guidepulley 38 is mounted for rotary movement about a horizontal axis in avertical plane while the guide pulley 39 is mounted for rotary movementabout a vertical axis in a horizontal plane, the pulleys 38, 39cooperating with the guide pulleys 36 for drivingly connecting thecontrol cable 3! between the manually actuable latch piece 35 and thesignal flag 20. As clearly shown in Figure 6 the latch piece 35 isprovided with a finger grip tit and accordingly upon the application ofan upwardly directed force to the latch piece 35 by the driver thesignalling flag can be moved to the extended position illustrated inphantom in Figure 2.

The face 42 of the upstanding housing i visible to the driver of thefollowing car is provided with an arrow 43 on a contrasting background44 which efiectively calls the attention of the driver of the followingvehicle to the traffie control signalling device to. Since the driver ofthe following vehicle is made aware of the signalling device by thearrow 43, the driver will be alerted and will be able to almostinstantaneously react to the Slow Down warning when the signal flag ismoved to the extended position.

Although only one embodiment of the traffic control signalling device ofthe present invention has been described, it is readily apparent thatnumerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehiclecomprising an upstanding hollow housing having its lower end openadapted to be secured to the rear of said vehicle a position visible toa following vehicle traveling in the same direction, there being alongitudinally extending slot in one side of said housing, the otherside of said housing being open adjacent the lower end thereof, avertically disposed signal flag positioned within said housing andpivotally connected adjacent its lower end to said housing for movementfrom the vertical position through said slot to a horizontal positionexteriorly of said housing, the lower end of said flag extending throughand beyond the lower open of said housing when said flag is in itsvertical position and movable through and out of the opening in theother side of said housing when the flag is moved to the horizontalposition, a weight secured to the lower end of said and hand-actuablemeans operatively connected to the lower end of said flag for effectingthe pivotal movement of said fiag.

2. A traffic control signalling device for attachment to a vehiclecomprising an uz tanding hollow housing having its lower end open,horizontally disposed supporting arm having one end embracingly securedto said housing adjacent the lower end thereof and having the other endadapted to be secured to said vehicle, there being a longitudinallyextending slot in one side of said housing, the other s de of housingbeing open adjacent the lower end thereof, a vertically disposed signalflag positioned within said housing and pivotally connected adj; ent itslower end to said housing for movement from the vertical positionthrough said slot to a horizontal position exteriorly of said housing,the lower end of said flag extending through and beyond the lower openend of said housing when said flag is in its vertical position andmovable through and out of the opening in the other side of said housingwhen the flag is moved to the horizontal position, a weight secured tothe lower end of said flag, and hand-actuable means operativelyconnected to the lower end of said flag for eiiecting the pivotalmovement of said flag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,155,934 Klemp Oct. 5, 1915 1,337,991 Archer Apr, 2'7, 19201,397,801 Drotar Nov. 22, 1921 1,545,271 Nolan July '7, 1925 1,732,334Hughes Oct. 22, 1929

